Scientists are hopeful of finding a cure for endometriosis after a possible cause was discovered. The culprit in question is a type of white blood cells called macrophages, which have undergone changes. The researchers from Warwick and Edinburg ran tests on white mice to come to the conclusion. They say that targeting these macrophages could be key to treat endometriosis.  What You Should and Shouldn’t Eat To Keep Your Uterus Healthy.

According to the paper published in Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the study was carried out to determine the role of these macrophages in causing painful endometriosis.

Senior author Dr Erin Greaves explained that the standard treatment of endometriosis, which involves hormonal treatment, won’t be “ideal” in the long run because it affects the functioning of the ovaries and fertility. Painful Things Only Women With Endometriosis Will Understand.

The cells play a part in stimulating nerve cell growth by releasing a growth hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). They not only let the lesions grow, but also supply them with blood. The study points out that macrophages also stimulate nerve development in them, which explains the pain.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects women in the menstruating age group. The tissues that normally grow inside the uterus (endometrium) starts growing outside the organ and responds to monthly hormonal cycles. Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvic region.

The endometrial tissues settled in other parts of the body behave like how they would inside the uterus. They thicken and bleed during every period, causing blood to get trapped inside without an orifice to drain themselves out.

The surrounding tissues get inflamed and irritated as a result, causing pain.

Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, painful sexual intercourse, infertility, heavy bleeding, fatigue, irritable bowel, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, etc.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2019 11:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).